The Kaduna Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday sealed the United Bank for Africa branches in the state metropolis over alleged N14.3 million unpaid tax.

Speaking to journalists after the exercise, the KADIRS Board Secretary/Legal Adviser, Aysha Ahmad, said the enforcement was to ensure tax compliance in the state in respect to withholding taxes and money agents

“We sent many demand notices to them. We are left with no other option but to enforce the law,” she said.

Ms Ahmad added that the service wanted voluntary compliance of tax payment, lamenting that the defaulter had been recalcitrant.

She however said when the defaulters pay, the service would unseal the premises.

Speaking further, the board secretary said the enforcement was part of a process to achieve the N120 billion revenue target set by the Kaduna State Government.

She said, “To achieve a target, there is always a starting point. Sealing UBA branches in the state for tax default is our start. We are also going after other defaulters to get what is due for the state government. We served them with demand notices. We have been communicating with their consultant and headquarters. In fact, they even took us to court and the outcome was like a win-win situation at the tax appeal tribunal. The court gave us directives to review our assessment which we did and they did not still comply. It is on the reviewed assessment we are enforcing this morning.’’

Ms Ahmad called on the people of the state to ensure voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a civic responsibility.

(NAN)